How Somalia’s Top Referee Missed Football’s Biggest Stage

A Somali referee made history when he was selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He never got to step onto the pitch. His story, however, did not end at Miami International airport. Litšitso Letsunyane For Omar Abdulkadir Artan, the 2026 FIFA World Cup was supposed to be the culmination of years of perseverance and hard work. Instead, the dream ended before it even began. The Somali referee, who had been selected by FIFA to officiate at the biggest football…Continue reading with a subscriptionSubscribe for full access to every story.Subscribe - M85/monthAlready a subscriber? Sign in Advertisement ...